Don Cross

Donald Leo Cross Sr.

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 7", Weight 165 lb.
• School Maryville College

• Born November 14, 1915 in Gold Hill, NC USA
• Died July 6, 2013 in Jacksonville, FL USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Don Cross played in the minor leagues for seven years and managed at that level for three.

He began his professional career in 1937, playing for the Class-D Cordele Reds in the Cincinnati Reds system. He hit .271 in 118 at-bats. With the Thomasville Orioles in 1938, he hit .257 with one home run and 22 doubles in 116 games. He played for the Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox in the Boston Red Sox organization in 1939 and hit .319 with 15 triples in 107 games. His 15 triples tied for third in the Appalachian League.

Cross did not play from 1940 to 1945. In 1946, he returned to professional and played for the Bristol Twins in the New York Giants system. He hit .336 with 28 doubles and 14 triples in 113 games, finishing third in the Appalachian League in triples. He also managed the team that year, leading the Twins to a second place 72-51 record. The squad lost in the first round of the playoffs.

In 1947, he suited up for the Erie Sailors and hit .308 with 24 doubles, 12 triples and 142 hits, finishing third in the Middle Atlantic League in games (123). As the team's manager, he led them to a 68-56 third place finish. They lost in the first round of the playoffs. He did not play in 1948.

In 1949, Cross hit .173 in 75 at-bats for the Jacksonville Tars. He did not play from 1950 to 1952. In 1953, he returned for one last professional stint, hitting .295 in 78 at-bats for the Vidalia Indians. He served as the team's manager for the latter part of the year, replacing Jake Daniel.

Overall, he hit .297 in 524 games.

He died at the age of 97 on July 6, 2013.

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1946	Bristol Twins	Appalachian League	72-51	2nd	New York Giants		Lost in 1st round
1947	Erie Sailors	Middle Atlantic League	68-56	3rd	New York Giants	Lost in 1st round
1953	Vidalia Indians	Georgia State League	--	8th	none		Replaced Jake Daniel on June 8